But if he has to put Izien or Merriweather out there he can make it work.
Because it worked SO WELL last season!
LOL, kidding but even if you take Bowles comments at face value (not posturing) their actual offseason actions so far suggest they are trying to solidify the defense and I think his point is that the Bucs DEFENSIVE needs can be filled mostly by quality 2nd and 3rd day and beyond guys ESPECIALLY IN A DEEP DRAFT . . unlike LT and QB . . .
Although what is the over/under on the Bucs drafting either a QB or an LT lol? I think their most pressing needs on OFFENSE (if any) were all depth, so WR swing tackle and maybe G, but they even resigned Sua and Heck already, so maybe WR is the best bet at an non-defense premium pick?
The draft is such a wildcard its tough to say. Lots of chatter about a move back, but in a deep draft?
I do not think Bowles is against adding more talent to defense but he is primarily the HC and a bit of Arians is rubbing off of him. Because if you can make an opposing offense one dimensional due to running up the score early it means your defense can feast and not worry playing the run as much.
bit of Arians is rubbing off of him.
Bowles is the NFL chameleon. He is sometimes the conservative old schooler who refuses to go for it on 4th. Sometimes he's a little bit "no risk it, no biscuit." Other times he's the HC forcing his OC (Canales) to run the ball, other times Arians-style chuck it down the field to run up the score!
He's got us all confused.
Overall you inflated it more than me. You can't label White a B or B+ when he really might be the softest RB in the league. He's a significantly worse version of Michael Pittman. I knocked Irving and Tucker down for the pass game, but I still have them as A's because their rush analytics are off the charts, while White is in the toilet.
Bredeson and Barton were tied for 7th most penalties from iOL. And honestly Barton got away with a few more. And the snaps. Bredeson just can't move, it's awful to watch. He can't get to the second level on combos and gets beat all the time in pass pro. Honestly Baker's best trait is navigating the pocket while Bredeson is moving like his shoes are tied to eachother. The fact that they re-signed him for anything was disheartening, let alone being stuck with him in 2026 for $9M. They could have drafted a guard on Day 2 that would be plug and play at good value for 4 years. Or if Banks or Booker fell to 19 you have a superior talent next to Wirfs.
Don't know what you were trying to prove with D+ vs F for Shepard. He probably is a D but I can't stand him so I knocked him. When you're lucky to be in the league because you went to college with the QB its best to not cause trouble. Plus he dropped that 4th down ball vs Dallas
Don't like Sheppard so you gave him an emotional grade. Hmmm, anyone else you wanna apply that logic to?
Bucky cannot be an A (and certainly not Tucker) if they can't block in pass pro. Until they can see the field in those moments it will be White, and White will get the value bump as such.
You're looking at a Ducks homer. I was pining over him pre draft and pumped the moment we got him when others here lamented it.
So I'm not some hater... He's a B+ until he learns to block
What we're seeing form bowles is what we saw from Licht is that they're both getting better and better each year
What we're seeing form bowles is what we saw from Licht is that they're both getting better and better each year
How is Bowles getting better? No way.
getting better and better each year
That is generally how things work in everyones day-to-day experience, right? People usually exist on an arc, not a flat line. People learn from experience, adapt etc. Ascend and then decline.
Opinions are usually much more fixed though, so thats where the clash arises. Players and coaches are framed EARLY and then reality is bent toward the frame to protect the opinion.
So, when we hire a Pete Carroll disciple at OC and he runs the ball a bunch . . "conservative" Bowles is to blame. He must be forcing our OC to run! So goes the bending of reality.
When the Bucs run even more with a new OC though, THAT is not attributed to Bowles. Because the running is SUCCESSFUL?
Reality bent to opinion, always. Human nature. Deny the defensive overhaul happening in front of their eyes . . because that would be inconsistent with prior opinions that injuries were overblown last seasons, that Bowles has his guys etc.
Licht comes out and says, explicitly, Bowles has done remarkably well with what he had. Discounted as "GM Speak"
rinse, wash. repeat. . . the worst "offenders" also the ones claiming others lack "self awareness" is what makes it so humorous.
Don't like Sheppard so you gave him an emotional grade. Hmmm, anyone else you wanna apply that logic to?
lol exactly
Sterling drops too many passes on key downs early in games. The Bucs succeed when they get up early. Sterling had key drops early in 2-3 games last season. If it were up to me, he'd never see the field.
What we're seeing form bowles is what we saw from Licht is that they're both getting better and better each year
How is Bowles getting better? No way.
After 14 years of coaching, he just now realized scoring more points than the opponent increases your chances of winning.
Baby steps...
What we're seeing form bowles is what we saw from Licht is that they're both getting better and better each year
How is Bowles getting better? No way.
After 14 years of coaching, he just now realized scoring more points than the opponent increases your chances of winning.
Baby steps...
It is, after all, a defensive forward league
What we're seeing form bowles is what we saw from Licht is that they're both getting better and better each year
How is Bowles getting better? No way.
After 14 years of coaching, he just now realized scoring more points than the opponent increases your chances of winning.
Baby steps...
It is, after all, a defensive forward league
Lol. Exactly.
Imagine the angst if the Bucs were only competing for FOUR division titles in a row (having recently also won a Super Bowl)!
:-)
God Bless that career sub .500 absolute genius we have at HC.
"hE cAn wIn uS a sUpErBoWl"!
God Bless that career sub .500 absolute genius we have at HC.
"hE cAn wIn uS a sUpErBoWl"!
Hey, look at the bright side. You have another chance this year to get off the schneid on your 0-3 "the Bucs are gonna fire Bowles" claims!
No crazy font needed.
"6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay has the third-best roster in the NFC? This is the first true surprise of the list. The Bucs are looking to build on a successful 2024 season; they won the NFC South and were the last team to beat the Eagles. Their offensive roster is set, though they’re replacing their offensive coordinator for the third consecutive season, which could be a challenge. However, my system still expects them to produce at a high clip again this year. The defense, however, needs some work. My projections have most of their defensive position groups rated around average. If they want to compete with the best in the NFC, they should be looking to add defensive players at a premier position with their first few picks in the draft."
"The Bucs are looking to build on a successful 2024 season; they won the NFC South and were the last team to beat the Eagles." (that should be in crazy font!)
"Their offensive roster is set". - except at G and WR!
"My system still expects [the offense] to produce at a high clip again this year."
"The defense, however, needs some work. My projections have most of their defensive position groups rated around average". (JC for the win?)
